Have you ever thought about redecorating your home? Adding some timber venetian blinds, new curtains, cushions or throw rugs can be a good start, but getting a complete 'look' can take a little more planning. Start with your furniture. What pieces do you want to keep? Base this choice on what you want to keep, not what you think is fashionable at the moment. Obviously the piece has to be the correct dimensions for the room, but the actual look of the piece can be easily changed. Furnishings are recyclable; heirlooms blend. The rigid rules of the past are gone. Have the style you want and put your own individual spin on it. Here are a few popular modes of decoration to jump-start those creative juices!

Traditional

Traditional decorating no longer adheres to period styles. Traditional style has come to translate pieces from any number of periods and countries. Many young families have created a newer, fresher take on traditional by using lighter colour palettes for walls, and window dressings become tailored curtains, sheers, Roman or roller blinds. The family heirlooms and older furniture marry perfectly with this new updated look – no need to go and buy all new furniture!

Country and Shabby Chic

"Country" has evolved into an all-encompassing term of American, English, Shabby Chic and French styles.

American country: let the breezes tug at the hems of simple window treatments. Roman shades in natural fabrics like cotton and linen are alluring. From seat cushions to table napkins, you will find simple patterns work best. For instance, look to plaids, checks, and stripes, in hues like sea-blue, lime-green, and butter-yellow. Oooh La La - How could French Country - also known as French Provincial - be anything less than charming? France is renowned for all things romantic including its well-loved 18th-century toile de Jouy (commonly referred to as just "toile") patterns peppered with endearing images of pastoral life. Today, in a rainbow of colours as well as hip black and white, toile is available as everything from wallpaper to drapery fabrics and accessories. (Toile fabric looks fabulous on an ottoman.) Create a typical French-country window with whimsical fabric patterns and repeat in furnishing details – chairs, ottoman, cushions, throws. Parisian Chic when toned down is often married with the country look to give a soft but elegant look. Think chandeliers, black, white and silver, mirrors – teenage girls love this look in their bedroom! Teamed with sparkly silver or charcoal sheer curtains in front of a blackout curtain (double tracks or poles) creates a sophisticated and fun look. Shabby Chic style is everything vintage, recycled, distressed furniture – team it with curtains in pretty feminine florals and dainty prints, Roman blinds in pastel washed out coloured stripes, floaty sheers in whites and creams. English country style is chintzier – use lots of patterns but in co-ordinated colours. Mix stripes, plaids, florals to bring this look together. Dress the window in a Roman blind, side drapes, tassel tiebacks, pelmet; then add cushions to furniture in same fabric story. The more pattern the better! But the trick is to layer the patterns in co-ordinated colours to avoid a messy look.